Stade Francais' Martin Rodriguez exploits a gap in the Montpellier defence © Getty Images

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Montpellier coach Fabien Galthie has questioned his side's preparation after their shock 30-13 defeat at the hands of Stade Francais at Stade Charlety.

The Top 14's form side found themselves 27-3 down at half-time, prompting a furious changing room dressing down from the former Stade Francais man. "I thought we were well prepared but I must believe otherwise [after the performance]," Galthie told Midi Olympique. "Our first lost ball at kick-off set the tempo for the rest of the first half. It's not a question of motivation. It's just that we didn't get going in the match quickly enough."

Biarritz backs coach Jack Isaac believes his side are peaking just at the right time following their 22-19 victory against Bayonne in the Pays Basque derby. Last year's Heineken finalists visit Bath in the first round of this season's competition next weekend and Isaac maintains the away win against their bitter Basque rivals will have done them no harm at all.

"We started out last year with a win away from home at Glasgow so that put us in a good position from the start," Isaac told Sudouest. "We'll go to Bath with a lot of motivation as the guys have a bitter taste in their mouth after losing the final last May. There's a huge desire to bounce back. In addition, after the win at Bayonne, the guys will approach it with loads of confidence. They want to go further than last year!"

Meanwhile Toulouse continued their preparations for next Sunday's Heineken opener against London Wasps with a hard fought 28-23 win over high-flying Racing Metro. "We've finished the first section of the championship before the Heineken Cup one point off the top in second place so that's not bad in fairness," the club's backs coach Jean Baptiste Elissalde told La Depeche du Midi. "We've got to look back at a few things to clean them up but on balance things are positive."